Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27
THE RlCHMOND OVERWHELMINGLY, MARCH ~. ISS7

tired OF X, Marion, and one OF the
sweetest thoughts have is TINT shall
be able TO help them in the future"
81 don't think father will care TO ac-
cent aims OF Sir Gilbert Leslie" Ma
non said, languidly lifting her proud
head
"Alms how can You put il 80 q?
Whoever thought of aims But there
are a hundred things rich man can
do for his-for those he wishes to
serve"
"And there are things poor man
cannot accept, even from q son-in-law.
Sir Gilbert can get father living il be
tries. That is the only thing he would
accept or that / should let him ac-
cept."
"What in the world have you to do
with il ?" asked pettishly, for the dia-
mond circIet ON my finger made me
brave 10 confront even Marion.
~ am fathers daughter, the one
WHO is likely to be with him longest Of
all his children, and l have right to
saw wherein we shall decline the favors
even of Sir Gilbert and Lady Leslie.
Certainly We are poor, but we are not
"How unkind you are !" I cried,
bursting into tears. eff had known
that YOU would have had only re-
proaches to greet me with don't think
i should have cared TO come home"
Forgive me, Lucy" She came over
and knelt down beside me and put her
arm about me. "Believe me, L am very
glad you are happy, very glad you will
have love and all else that you value in
the future"
81 should like you to be pleased
should like you to like Gilbert"
You are very fond OF him ?"
"How could 1 be anything else-so
handsome, and clever, and splendid as
he is !?
"And so rich, too"
/ locked up at her sharply. ayes,
he is rich, but did not think OF that
if [ had only thought of money / might
have done even better than Gilbert. "
"Then you were quite success ?"
81 did not say so but one may be
liked without being the distinguished
beauty You are"
Marion rose from her knees and
smoothed her dress carefully with her
hand. 81 did not mean to offend you"
she said slowly. 81 don't think your
visit to Aunt Hilda has improved You"
| And then she went down stairs and left
me TO cry my eyes out over the presents
1 bad packed with such pleasure for
every one. had anticipated certain
amount of pain in my homecoming,
Int certainly had not expected to be
rebuked and disregarded.
| recalled carefully every word that
he'd passed between Marion and me,
and grew only more indignant under a
strong sense of wrong. ! had said
nothing to offend her, and she certainly
had been unkind.
"Perhaps shells angry that | am get
ting married before her" | said, but
dismissed the thought as contemplate.
What could she care for that when she
had refused to marry Lord Stelfox?
Mother came little later to sit with
me. Dear, sweet mother she was
ready enough to hear all had to tell
and to rejoice with me.
"You are very fond of Sir Gilbert %
size said, stroking my hair tenderly.
ooh, yes How could ! help it +?
When you have seen him you will won
der, as | do, how he could ever have
thought Of little stupid thing like
me-"
81 don't know that men generally
like women better for being very large
or very clever" mother answered, with
her bright smile. 81
He is as handsome as he can be-" |
went on "and he is such a natural
man. ] never was shy with him as |
am with most people, and We were
friends from the very first, and | never
was ashamed to let him know that we
were poor at home, and do not in the
least mind his coming here and seeing
all our makeshift ways. Perhaps that
is because he was not always rich him
self In his youth he had struggles like
other people, and came into the baron
etcy quite unexpectedly last year.
"Yes, his cousin was drowned, re-
member"
"Marion knew him little long ago.
but l suppose she has forgotten him,
for he was of 10 account then but he
remembers her perfectly, and he told
me some particulars OF her engagement
10 / ord Stellox; and we have arranged
that when we are married we shall try
to bring them together again.
at is not often that men are match
makers" mother said, flushing prettilv
over the grand future which seemed
opening ont before her daughters.
ooh / think ] am the matchmaker,
but he approved of ali l proposed for,
of course, he sees how desirable it is
that oil should come right between
them"
"What is Lord Stelfox like? ?"
So He is nice not as handsome as
| Gilbert, but nice, nevertheless. Not
very young, you know, but handsome.
Aunt Hilda is very fond of him.
81 wonder what came between him
and Marion 2"
81 don't know, and neither does
Aunt Hilda."
MOtlcI anu went uONH SiAlIb diut-
cably, arm in arm, and though Marion
did not make any reference to our con-
versaticn her manner was apologize.
| But she mantle std no interest in Gil
bert, nor even asked how anything had
come about.
We were all very busy in the days
before Gilbert came, cooking and scrub
bing, patching and darning, SO as to
wear cur best aspect before him.
"1hank goodness my share in the gem
eral neediness is nearly over " said
as put little final touches to the flow
ers was arranging in the spare bed
room, while Marion was lacking on
fresh window blinds.
"You have a great horror OF power
ty," she said, with that cold information
that was learning to know and detest
81 hate it more than anything in the
wide world"
Then how fortunate that you will
be so far beyond its reach in the fu
ture !
Yes, 1 am glad Gilbert is rich"
"Is he very rich 2"
eighteen thousand year"
"You ought to live very comfortably